Bible Study - Special Lesson - Tithing - An Obedient Response to GOD - Malachi 3:7-12 - July 15, 2018

Bible Study – Special Lesson – Tithing – An Obedient Response to GOD – July 15, 2018

This is a special lesson on tithing or giving.

Is giving more than money? Do Christians give in order to get? Does GOD want our money or does HE want our relationship?

What is the greatest gift that a Christian can give to GOD? It is ourselves by seeking to build the right relationship with GOD on a daily basis. When we are in right relationship with GOD, then our lifestyle reflects this relationship.

Our focus scripture is Malachi 3:7-12.

Respond to GOD’S goodness through a tithe of your income.

Tithing can be painful when done out of obligation. Many of us love our possessions, especially our money. We might need it one day. Can GOD provide for all of our needs? Certainly GOD desires for us to be wise with the resources HE allows us to manage.

Our giving is a reflection of our heart toward GOD. We often get the cart before the horse. Christians must build the right relationship with GOD. When we are in right relationship, our giving, according to the leadership of GOD through the indwelling Holy Spirit, takes on new meaning. Giving is an expression of our gratitude toward GOD and trusting HIM to provide for our needs.   

Trusting GOD is a Spiritual growth process. There are times when HE tosses us into the deep water. But when that happens we must remember what JESUS taught in Matthew 7:7-11:

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 

8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 

10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 

11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 

The LORD gave me a profound teaching recently regarding my financial resources. HE revealed to me that I had made one of the financial investments my god. My wisdom was greater than HIS wisdom. It was a powerful and hard lesson but one that I needed.

Often, we use our resources to accumulate just a little more, when the Holy Spirit is telling us to use what we have.

Let’s explore!

The Book of Malachi was written by the Prophet Malachi. His ministry was around 450 B.C. GOD led him to address six major Spiritual issues which the Jews needed to recognize and deal with: (Loosely Copied from pages 87-88 of the “Advanced Bible Study,” summer 2018, Dr. Wayne Van Horn, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234.)

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  The Jews doubted GOD’S expressed love for them. (Malachi 1:1-5)

-         The priests despised GOD’S name. (Malachi 1:6-2:9)

-         The people dealt treacherously with each other. (Malachi 2:10-16)

-         The people wearied GOD by questioning HIS justice. (Malachi 2:17-3:6.)

-         The people robbed GOD of tithes and offerings. (Malachi 3:7-12)

-         The people spoke harshly against GOD. (3:13-4:6)

During this time period, Judah was a small province of the Persian Empire which included Jerusalem and the surrounding region. In the surrounding region there were 48 cities where the tribe of Levi lived so they could teach the Law of Moses and train the people of GOD in covenant living. The people had to pay annual tribute of gold, silver or other possessions to the Persian kings. Inflation was 40-50 percent.

The Jews had lost hope in GOD, likely, because the priests had also lost hope in GOD. When the religious leaders lose hope, they fail to lead, which equals despair.

GOD called Ezra, the scribe, to reintroduce the Law of Moses; Nehemiah the governor to apply his administrative skills to reconstruct the walls of Jerusalem and Malachi the prophet to confront GOD’S people regarding their egregious behavior against GOD.

When those who know the One True GOD abandon HIM that is a nation headed for serious trouble. America beware!

I believe America is headed for a time of prosperity. Prosperity can lead to self-sufficiency and self-sufficiency can lead to Spiritual compromise. We, as Christians, must stay focused on Spiritual truth and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. If we use our resources to the Glory of GOD, much will be accomplished to spread the Gospel around the world.

The priests had grown cold and calloused, thus the Jews had no Spiritual leadership.

Let’s read Malachi 3:7-12:

Robbing God

7 "Since the days of your fathers, you have turned from My statutes; you have not kept [them]. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the Lord of Hosts. But you ask: "How can we return?" 

GOD delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and in doing so revealed Himself to them. GOD chose the Israelites to be HIS people and HIS desire was for the Israelites to choose HIM, which they did. HE also wanted to have a personal relationship with each of them, just as HE had with Moses. But they chose an arm’s length relationship. They chose Moses to be their go-between. Thus the establishment of a priest as the go-between. GOD manifested Himself to them yet over time they would abandon HIM. HE would allow events to come into their lives which would get their attention and they would return to GOD. Yet, GOD’S love for HIS chosen people never failed.

Some one thousand years after their deliverance from Egyptian bondage, the Israelites had strayed again. Even the priests had strayed.

GOD called the prophet Malachi to urge the Israelites to return to HIM and HE would return to them.

The use of the word “return” had a dual meaning. The first use of “return” meant to turn and go in the opposite direction. The Israelites had strayed from GOD and GOD was offering them an opportunity to return to HIM. This use of the first “return” carried the idea of repentance or going in the opposite direction e.g. turning from a life of sin to a life of obedience to GOD.

The second use of “return” applies to GOD. When a person desires to return to GOD, HE is open and ready to receive him or her. GOD never leaves or forsakes anyone seeking HIM.

Sin is a barrier but JESUS broke the sin barrier when HE gave HIS sinless life on the cross by the shedding of HIS blood. When a person places his or her faith in JESUS, he or she is born Spiritually into the family of GOD. When a Christian sins, he or she never loses his or her salvation. He or she is always GOD’S Son or Daughter. GOD never abandons HIS child.

Satan does all he can to convince Christians that when they sin, GOD has abandoned them. Satan also works to convince non-Christians that they have been so sinful that GOD has abandoned them. Both are Satan’s lies. JESUS waits ready to welcome all when we, as Christians, return to HIM or come to HIM seeking salvation. Remember the story of the prodigal son as recorded in Luke 15:11-32.

It would be about 450 years before The Promised Messiah, GOD’S Only SON, JESUS, would come to earth as 100% human. Meanwhile, GOD was getting things in order for that magnificent event.

GOD’S desire was for HIS chosen people to return to the scriptures and be guided by them so they would be ready for this planned event before the world was created.

GOD identified Himself as the LORD of Hosts or in some translations “the Lord of Armies.” This is a title for GOD which refers to HIM as the self-existent redemptive GOD Who rules over HIS angelic hosts and the forces of the Israelites.

GOD established HIS authority as to why HE could make such a statement to the Israelites through the Prophet Malachi.

GOD had manifested Himself throughout the lives of the Israelites and the Israelites knew it. GOD placed HIS finger on a symptom of their broken relationship with HIM. They were robbing GOD by not giving. But it was more than not giving, it was deeper. It was that their hearts toward GOD were cold, calloused and hard which was manifested by not giving.

This was GOD’S attention getter for the Israelites to acknowledge that they had not been giving. True facts cannot be refuted. 

8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me!" You ask: "How do we rob You?" "[By not making the payments] of 10 percent and the contributions. 

9 You are suffering under a curse, yet you-the whole nation-are [still] robbing Me. 

GOD was telling the Israelites, in essence, “You people know you are suffering but you do not know why. It is simple, your relationship with ME (GOD) is non-existent. You are under a self-imposed curse brought about by your actions toward ME. You have removed yourselves from MY banner of blessings because of your hard hearts.”

GOD was telling the Israelites that they had an opportunity to begin to restore their relationship with HIM by one simple act. They were to give 10% and make contributions in addition to the 10%.

Small steps of obedience, lead to giant steps of growing faith in GOD.

Obedience to GOD’S command leads to GOD’S grace being extended to those giving which in turn reaches out to others.

10 Bring the full 10 percent into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way," says the Lord of Hosts. "See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. 

GOD instructed them to bring their 10% and contributions to the storehouse. The storehouse was used to provide goods to those in need and to sustain their religious leaders. One storehouse was located in Jerusalem but there were other storehouses located in each of the forty-eight (48) Levitical cities. Every third year, tithes and contributions were to remain at the local Levitical cities to help the Levites, alien residents, widows and orphans.

Here we must be careful. Often, our human nature takes over when we read “Bring the full 10 percent into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way," says the Lord of Hosts. "See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.” This is GOD’S promise and covenant but does it apply to Christians today?

If we give to get, it will backfire. When we give with ulterior motives our hearts are corrupt. GOD desires pure hearts toward HIM. When our hearts are pure, then GOD, Who sees all from HIS vantage point, guards us and our resources as we read in our next scripture ----

11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your ground, and your vine in your field will not be barren," says the Lord of Hosts. 

12 "Then all the nations will consider you fortunate, for you will be a delightful land," says the Lord of Hosts.

GOD delights when we prosper because of our relationship with HIM through faith in JESUS. When we, as Christians, give from hearts that are the result of building and knowing GOD through our relationship with HIM through faith in JESUS, it reveals Spiritual growth and maturity. Spiritual growth is a process; sanctification.

When we give, are our motives pure and true?

Let’s consider Psalm 139:23:

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! (ESV)

Christians are individuals but individuals make up countries and nations. When GOD considers our hearts toward HIM how do we measure up?

Never let giving take the place of our building the right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. But let our giving be a reflection of our trust and faith in GOD, out of our love for HIM and our faith in JESUS.

Blessings!!!